(SitNews) Craig, Alaska - This week, biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, announce the Unit 2 wolf harvest for regulatory year 2014 will be 25 wolves. Game Management Unit 2, includes Prince of Wales and a series of small adjacent islands.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game currently manages Unit 2 wolves for an annual harvest that should not exceed 30% of the unit wide, preseason estimated population. The most recent estimate from research conducted in fall 2013 resulted in 221 wolves with a range of 130-378. The harvest quota of 25 wolves is based on 20% of the low end of the 2013 estimated population range.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game conducted a series of public meetings during spring and fall of 2014, in the communities of Craig, Thorne Bay and Coffman Cove to address management actions with local trappers and community members. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the current conservative approach is widely supported by the local trapping community.

Prior to regulatory year (RY) 2014 the harvest limit was set at 60 wolves. After several consecutive seasons (2008-2011) of low wolf harvests in Unit 2, harvests reached high levels during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. This increase is believed to have been due in part to mild winter weather that kept much of the Unit 2 road system snow-free and accessible to trappers and thereby facilitated high trapper participation and effort. Managers closed the season by emergency order in March 2013 after 57 wolves were harvested.

All other hunting and trapping seasons in Unit 2 remain unchanged and are not affected by this announcement. Game Management Unit 2, includes Prince of Wales and a series of small adjacent islands.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

Alaska Department of Fish & Game
www.adfg.state.ak.us

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